Union Pacific wants to run trains near crumbling Portland warehouse against city warnings

Key Points:

• Union Pacific plans to resume rail traffic alongside the fire-damaged Centennial Mills warehouse in Portland's Pearl District on Sunday, despite city warnings about the building's deteriorating condition and risk of collapse.
• The city suspended rail traffic last week due to safety concerns and has ordered the property owner to begin demolition by August 14, but Union Pacific cites disruptions to passenger and freight rail service as reasons to reopen the corridor.
• To mitigate risks, Union Pacific will implement safety measures including slow train speeds, positioning personnel during operations, and prohibiting hazardous materials on trains, while the city insists on having a hazmat team and vibration monitoring on site.
• Neighbors express fear about a potential uncontrolled collapse impacting the neighborhood, and city officials highlight increasing structural instability, with the building leaning toward the rail lines.
• Investigators have not determined the fire's cause and have not ruled out arson; they also report a high likelihood of human remains buried under the rubble, making demolition methods critical for evidence recovery.